Automated Multiple-Instance Spanning Tree Reconfiguration

1. A method of automated multiple-instance spanning tree reconfiguration, the method comprising: detecting a first triggering event comprising an initial reconfiguration of a multiple-instance spanning tree (MST) instances due to failure of a link or switch within an MST region; in response to detecting the first triggering event, sending query packets to switches within the MST region, said query packets requesting statistics for measured data traffic for ports of the switches; receiving response packets from the switches, said response packets containing said statistics for measured data traffic for the ports of the switches; determining an MST reconfiguration based on the statistics for measured data traffic for the ports of the switches; and propagating the MST reconfiguration to the switches within the MST region.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MST reconfiguration comprises a re-mapping of virtual local area networks (VLANs) to multiple-instance spanning tree protocol (MSTP) instances to move at least one VLAN from one MST instance to another MST instance.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the MST reconfiguration comprises a modification of MST parameters.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the query packets are sent periodically to poll the switches as to the statistics for the measured data for the ports of the switches.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reconfiguration is determined to improve network performance within the MST region.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the reconfiguration is further determined to decrease a rate of dropped packets by the switches.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the reconfiguration is determined in dependence of VLAN traffic priorities to increase performance on a higher priority VLAN.

8. The method of 1 , further comprising: reconfiguring the MST instances to accommodate at a first scheduled network traffic change having a start time and an end time; and after the end time, returning the MST instances to a prior configuration.

9. A network management apparatus for a network, the apparatus comprising: a processor; memory for storing processor-executable instructions and data; a communication system for communicatively coupling components within the network management apparatus; and at least one port communicatively coupled to another device in the network, wherein the memory includes a) processor-executable code to determine an multiple instance spanning tree (MST) reconfiguration based on statistics for measured data traffic for the at least one port, said statistics being received from said at least one port, wherein the reconfiguration comprises a scheduled reconfiguration to accommodate a predetermined change in network traffic; and b) processor-executable code to send packets to multiple-instance spanning tree protocol (MSTP) enabled switches within a MST region to propagate said MST reconfiguration.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the MST reconfiguration comprises a re-mapping of virtual local area networks (VLANs) to multiple-instance spanning tree protocol (MSTP) instances to move at least one VLAN from one MST instance to another MST instance.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the MST reconfiguration comprises a modification of MST parameters comprising port path costs and port priorities.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising: processor-executable code to send query packets to switches within an multiple-instance spanning tree (MST) region, where the query packets request statistics for measured data traffic for ports of the switches; and processor-executable code to receive and process response packets from the switches with the statistics for measured data traffic for the ports of the switches.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the query packets are sent periodically to poll the switches as to the statistics for measured data traffic for the ports of the switches.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the query packets are sent after a triggering event.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the triggering event comprises a reconfiguration of the MST instances due to a failed link or switch within the MST region.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the scheduled reconfiguration comprises a start time and an end time.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the reconfiguration is determined to improve network performance within the MST region.

18. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the reconfiguration is determined in dependence of VLAN traffic priorities, and wherein the reconfiguration is determined to increase performance on a higher priority VLAN.

19. A network switching apparatus, the apparatus comprising: a processor; memory for storing processor-executable instructions and data; a communication system for communicatively coupling components within the apparatus; and at least one port communicatively coupled to another device in the network, wherein the memory includes a) processor-executable code to obtain statistics for measured data traffic for all ports of the apparatus when a query packet requesting the statistics for measured data traffic is received; b) processor-executable code to send a response packet in reply to the query packet, wherein the response packet includes the statistics for measured traffic utilization; c) processor-executable code to replace a first multiple-instance configuration with a second multiple-instance configuration based on the statistics for measured data traffic; d) processor-executable code to reconfigure the second multiple instance configuration to accommodate at a scheduled network traffic change having a start time and an end time; and e) processor-executable code to return to the second multiple instance configuration after the end time.